April 26, 2000 05:59am
ACLJ Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Permit Boy Scouts to Uphold Its Ban On Homosexuals in Leadership
Source: Business Wire
by: Company Press Release
(WASHINGTON) -- The American Center for Law and Justice, an international public interest law firm, said today a New Jersey case before the U.S. Supreme Court represents a ``critical crossroads'' for the Boy Scouts of America and other private organizations involving the role of homosexuals in leadership.
``The Supreme Court has the opportunity to protect the First Amendment rights of the Boy Scouts to make its own decisions about leadership based on the organization's own values and moral code,'' said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, which filed a brief on behalf of the Boy Scouts. ``This case represents a critical crossroads for the Boy Scouts and other private organizations that set their own leadership standards. This case could have a dramatic impact on how all private organizations operate. Many organizations - including religious groups - are watching this case very closely.''
In August 1999, the New Jersey Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that concluded the Boy Scouts violated state anti-discrimination laws by removing James Dale - an assistant Scoutmaster - after he openly declared his homosexuality. The Boy Scouts appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is hearing oral arguments in the case today. The ACLJ filed a brief with the Court supporting the Boy Scouts on behalf of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The American Center for Law and Justice is an international public interest law firm specializing in pro-family, pro-life and pro-liberty cases. The Web site address is www.aclj.org.
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